IPN-LIKE SYSTEMS BASED ON POLYETHYLENE AND METHACRYLATES - 2 - POLYETHYLENE BUTYL METHACRYLATE COPOLYMER IPNS

IPN-like materials based on polyethylene and butyl methacrylate copoly mers were prepared by in situ polymerization above the melting point o f PE. A co-continuous phase morphology was observed. The use of butyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate and a low content of methacrylate crosslinker resulted in a fine dispersion of the IPN components in one another. Grafting reactions during the synthesis of the IPN-Iike mate rials between PE and methacrylates were demonstrated. A decrease in th e chain length of the substituent at the ester group of the methacryla te comonomer, in the order dodecyl methacrylate (DMA) > 2-ethylhexyl m ethacrylate (EHMA) > butyl methacrylate (BMA), is advantageous to the mechanical properties of the IPNs. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.